Jefferson's Table: Crispy Crunchy Hot Chili Rellenos from Taos Inn

Chili Rellenos

Cow Girl Chef perfected a recipe that works!

For the full story of Doc Martin's dishes visit my post here: Taos Inn

INGREDIENTS:

4 large Poblano peppers, roasted and skins removed*
8 ounces Pepper Jack, mozzarella, or any other mild and easily melting cheese
2 cups buttermilk
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup yellow corn meal
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups crushed tortilla chips**
1 quart peanut oil or vegetable oil

WHAT YOU DO

1. Make a “T” with a sharp, serrated knife in each peeled poblano pepper, and with a spoon, remove all of the seeds and the white membrane at the top and along the sides. Now, put the peppers in a bowl and pour the buttermilk over them.

2. Sift the flour, corn meal and salt into a bowl. Set aside. Put the crushed tortilla chips in another bowl.

3. Pour the oil into a large, tall-sided pan (I like to use the same pots that I make soup with so the oil doesn’t splatter all over the stove), and turn heat on high. Use a candy thermometer, and when the oil reaches 350 degrees, it’s ready.

4. Now, the fun part. First, stuff each pepper with a bit of the cheese, cut in long sticks, so they’ll easily slide into the peppers.

5. Working one pepper at a time, dip back into the buttermilk, then into the flour-corn meal mixture, then back into the buttermilk, and this time, into the crushed tortilla chips. Set each pepper onto a plate so they’ll dry just a bit before you fry.

Using a spatula, carefully slide each pepper into the hot oil. They’ll fry about 30 seconds to one minute and then, you’ll need to flip them over and let the other side cook. Remove and put on paper towels to drain.
Serve immediately with roasted tomato salsa and a bit of sour cream. Note: Doc Martin’s serves with a Goat Cheese Crema (mix a heaping tablespoon of goat cheese with the same amount of heavy cream) and a scattering of roasted pumpkin seeds.

*Two easy ways to roast peppers: 1. Place directly on a gas flame and turn the peppers as the skins burn. 2. Turn oven on broil, place peppers on cookie sheet, and roast, again, turning the peppers. Then, put roasted peppers in a tightly sealed plastic bag for 10-15 minutes and let steam. Now you can easily remove the skins.

**You may use a food processor, or a rolling pin with chips (my favorite method) in a Ziploc freezer bag (much sturdier) to crush the tortilla chips.

Roasted Tomato Salsa

INGREDIENTS

8 large Roma tomatoes
1 medium jalapeno, with seeds
4 cloves garlic, peeled
½ small white onion, sliced
1 lime
sea salt & pepper

WHAT YOU DO

1. On a comal or cast-iron skillet, over high heat, put the tomatoes, onions, garlic, and jalapenos, and cook until well-roasted on each side.

2. Put everything but the jalapenos in a bowl. Set aside.

3. Slice off the top of the peppers, devein and remove the seeds. Put the cleaned jalapenos in the bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

4. Using a hand blender, and working in stops and starts, whir until just until the ingredients combine, and the mixture is still chunky. Taste and add squeeze of half a lime or more if needed.
Let rest for 2-4 hours before serving.

Jefferson's Table Recipe here: